Collapsible columnar structure



April 4, 1967 w. SCHUSTER GOLLAPSIBLE COLUMNAR STRUCTURE Filed May 8, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILHELM SCHUS TEP INVENTOR.

AGENT April 4, 1967 w. SCHUSTER 3,312,020

COLLAPSIBLE COLUMNAR STRUCTURE Filed May 8, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 9

W/LHELM SCHUS TER INVENTOR.

AGENT United States Patent Ofiice 3,3l2,@2 Patented Apr. 4, 1967 3,312,020 COLLAPSIBLE COLUMNAR STRUCTURE Wilhelm Schuster, Dauphiuestr. 194, Linz (Danube), Austria Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,870 6 Claims. (Cl. 52108) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 72,837, filed November 29,

1960, and now abandoned.

My present invention relates to an elongated columnar structure adapted to be selectively straightened and collapsed, this structure being essentially composed of loosely interconnected members or sections which may be stiffened into a rigid body or relaxed for storage and transport. Such structures have been disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,822,896, issued February 11, 1958, whose disclosure is, however, limited to a column adapted to be stiffened or relaxed by means of a single tension cable (-or an array of closely spaced cables) extending longitudinally within the column itself.

The general object of my instant invention is to provide astructure of this general type which can be more effectively braced against lateral stresses, either omnidirectionally (e.g. in the case of an upright column or mast) .or preferentially in a given axial plane (e.g. in the case of a horizontal beam).

In accordance with a principal feature of my invention, one or more of the aligned and contiguous body sections of a columnar structure, of the general type disclosed in my earlier patent, are provided with outrigger arms extending at least approximately transversely of the column, there being provided within the column a first releasable tension element and alongside the column a second such element which is anchored to the extremities of the column and engages the free end or ends of the aforementioned outrigger arm or arms. These tension element may, if desired, form part of a single cable looped about an extremity of the column so that only one tightening device will be necessary.

Depending upon the kind of structure desired, the outrigger arms may all lie in one plane of extend in different radial directions. In the latter case, upon the release of the central tension cable, these arms may all be swung into or almost into a common plane to facilitate the rolling or folding of the collapsed structure about an axis parallel to that plane.

The invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which its arms may be swung into coplanar position preparatorily to rolling or folding;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the process of being rolled up;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, drawn to a larger scale, of a tightening device adapted to be used with the structure of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view of another structure according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view similar to FIG. 6, showing the arms of the structure swung into nearly coplanar position;

FIG. 8 is an elevational View similar to FIG. 5, showing the structure in the position of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view, in axial section, of the upper extremity of the structure of FIGS. 5-7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view, in axial section, of the lower extremity of the structure of FIGS. 5-7; and

FIG. 12 is a view taken on the line XII-XII of FIG. 11.

The structure 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3 is essentially composed of generally bead-shaped, tubular body sections 11 with aligned center bores traversed by tension cables 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and 122 whereby the beads 11 are interconnected in five parallel columns 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 13e. Each column includes several slightly larger beads 14 from which outrigger arms 15 or 15" extend in radial direction to form links between adjoining columns. The cables 12a-12e can be individually or collectively tensioned or slackened to stilfen or relax the associated coulmns, the beads 11 and 14 of each rigid column hearing endwise upon one another in pressure-transmitting re lationship and in frictional contact so that the arms 15' and 15" tend to maintain the orientation given to them prior to the tightening of the structure, Thus, as illus trated in FIG. 1, these arms may be so arranged that the columns 13a, 13b and 130, linked by the arms 15', lie in a horizontal plane from which the arms 15" rise vertically so as to define, together with the columns 13d and 132, an upstanding web of a T-beam whose flange is represented by the three first-mentioned columns. As shown in FIG. 2, the arms 15 with their columns 13d and 132 can be swung into the plane of columns 13a, 13b and 13a to produce a planar structure adapted to be rolled up in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, such swinging of the arms 15 being readily accomplished in the relaxed state of cable 12b of the central column 13b and, if necessary, of the adjoining cables 12a and 120. For the rolling operation shown in FIG. 3 it will, of course, also be essential to relax the remaining two cables 12d and 12e.

In FIG. 4 I have illustrated, by way of example, a device 20 adapted to be used for the simultaneous tightening of the cables 1261-126 of the structure 10 just described. This device, adapted to be attached to either end of the structure, comprises a base 21 traversed by three parallel tubes 22a, 22b and 220 which respectively accommodate the cables 12a, 12b and 120 with freedom of relative sliding motion. Swingably mounted on center tube 22b are a pair of arms 23', 23" respectively supporting two short tubes 22d and 22a which slidably accommodate the columns 12a and 12a. Two other arms 24- and 24", swingably supported on tube 22a and 220, have hook-shaped extremities adapted to snap around tubes 22d and 22e, respectively, in order to maintain them in the illustrated position above the central tube 22b. The ends of all five cables 12a-12e are anchored to a block 25 located forwardly of base 21 and movable relatively thereto with the aid of a crank 26 whose shaft 27, rotatably but nonshiftably journaled in block 25, carries a pinion 28 in mesh with two other pinions 29" and 29'. The latter pinions, rotatable but axially fixed in block 25, are rigid with a pair of lead screws 3th, 30" threadedly engaging the base 21.

It will be noted that the elements 21, 23', 23", 24 and 24" constitute a collapsible polygonal frame designed to maintain the relative position of the cable illustrated in FIG. 1. The opposite ends, not shown, of these cables may be attached to a similar collapsible frame or, if desired, to a completed tensioning device corresponding to device 20.

In FIGS. S-8 I show a modified structure comprising a single column 130 composed of bead-shaped sections 111 together with enlarged sections 114a, 11412 and 1140 which are integral with respective outrigger arms 115a, 115k and 115C. The sections 11%, 114i) and 1140, adjoining one another directly, recur at various locations along the column 113, these locations being separated by intervening sections 111. The sections of the column 113 re held together by one or more cables, not visible in 'IGS. 5-8, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 9l2', other cables 12a, 1121; and 1120 traverse the perforated free ends of rms 115a, 1151) and 1150, respectively, and are anchored the extremities of the column 113 in a manner more illy described hereinafter. It will be noted that each set f arms 115a, 1151) and 1150 are of staggered lengths, ecreasing progressively from the center toward the top r bottom of the column.

In normal use, the outrigger arms 115a, 11512 and 1150 my extend in different axial planes 120 apart, as illusrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, to confer maximum omnidireclonal bending resistance upon the structure 110. To failitate the collapsing of the structure, following the reixation of the various tension cables, the arms may be wung into a nearly coplanar position, as shown in FIGS.

and 8, whereupon the structure may be rolled up subtantially as illustrated in FIG. 3 for the structure 10.

The column 113 rises from a base 120 and terminates t the top in a crown 130. As best seen in FIGS. 9 and O, crown 130 is attached to the uppermost body section 11' by means of radial lugs 131 forming spaces between hem for the passage of cables 112a, 1121) and 112e, these ables continuing inwardly inside the column 113 to form he means for pressing the sections 111, 114a, 11% and 140 thereof against one another, thereby stiffening the olumn 113 concurrently with the tensioning of the outer able portions that pass through the ends of the outrigger .rms. It will, of course, be apparent that separate inner vnd outer tensioning elements (e.g., cables) could also be tsed for this purpose.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, base 120 is provided with .yes 121a, 1211) and 1210 engageable by books at the ends )f cables 112a, 112b and 1120', additional eyes may, if lesired, be provided to anchor the cables in positions other han 120 apart. The lowermost body section 111" is eceived in a recess 1.23 of base 120 communicating with t bore 124 into which projects a screw 125 threadedly en- ;aging the bottom of the base; the other ends of cables t12a, 112b and 112a are anchored to a swivel head 126 at he top of screw 125. A handle 127 facilitates rotation of crew 125 for the simultaneous tightening and releasing If all three cables.

It will be apparent that the structures described and llustrated may be modified in various ways, e.g., by a .taggering of the arm lengths (as in structure 110) in FIG. 1 or by the interposition of additional beads (as in structure between the free ends of the arms in FIGS. 5 and 8, i.e., on the outer portions of cables 112a, 11% and 112s. These and other combinations and substitu- ;ions of compatible features, along with other changes that avill be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art, are .ntended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of my Invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An elongated structure adapted to be selectively straightened and collapsed, comprising a row of contiguous body sections defining a collapsible column, said sections being provided with passages aligned in the straightened position of said column, at least one of said sections being provided with an outrigger arm extending generally transversely to said column, a first elongated flexible tension element extending through all said passages, a second elongated flexible tension element anchored to the extremities of said column and engaging the free end of said outrigger arm, said first and second tension elements being parts of a cable looped about an extremity of said column, and releasable tightening means for alternately tensioning said elements against said column and slackening said elements preparatorily to a collapse of the structure.

2. An elongated structure adapted to be selectively straightened and collapsed, comprising a row of contiguous body sections defining a collapsible column, said sections being provided with passages aligned in the straightened position of said column, certain of said sections being provided with axially spaced outrigger arms extending generally transversely to said column in at least one plane, a first elongated flexible tension element extending through all said passages, at least one other elongated flexible tension element integral with said first element anchored to the extremities of said column and engaging the free ends of said outrigger arms, and releasable tightening means for alternately tensioning said elements against said column and slackening said elements preparatorily to a collapse of the structure.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, further comprising additional body sections traversed by said other element, said additional sections being disposed in contiguous and interleaved relationship with said free ends between said extremities.

4. A structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said arms are of staggered length decreasing from substantially the center of the column toward both extremities.

5. An elongated structure adapted to be selectively straightened and collapsed, comprising a row of contiguous body sections defining a collapsible column, said sections being provided with passages aligned in the straightened position of said column, certain of said sections being provided with outrigger arms extending generally transversely to said column in a plurality of different directions, a first elongated flexible tension element extending through all said passages, other elongated flexible tension elements anchored to the extremities of said column and engaging the free ends of respective outrigger arms, at least one of said other flexible tension elements being integral with said first element, and releasable tightening means for alternately tensioning said elements against said column and slackening said elements preparatorily to a collapse of the structure, said outrigger arms being swingable into an approximately coplanar position in the slack state of at least said first element.

6. An elongated structure adapted to be selectively straightened and collapsed, comprising a row of contiguous body sections defining a collapsible column, said sections being provided with passages aligned in the straightened position of said column, certain of said sections being provided with outrigger arms extending generally transversely to said column and forming a plurality of sets of arms disposed in different axial planes, a tfirst elongated flexible tension element extending through all said passages, other elongated flexible tension elements anchored to the extremities of said column and engaging the free ends of respective sets of coplanar outrigger arms, at least one of said other flexible tension elements being integral with said first element, and releasable tightening means for alternately tensioning said elements against said column and slackening said elements preparatorily to a collapse of the structure, all said outrigger arms being swingable into an approximately coplanar position in the slack state of at least said first element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,986 2/1908 Tatchell 114-89 2,319,999 5/1943 Jennings 114102 X 2,822,896 4/ 1952 Schuster 52--108 2,902,789 9/ 1959 Mehr 431 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 550,688 12/1922 France.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner, 

1. AN ELONGATED STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY STRAIGHTENED AND COLLAPSED, COMPRISING A ROW OF CONTIGUOUS BODY SECTIONS DEFINING A COLLAPSIBLE COLUMN, SAID SECTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH PASSAGES ALIGNED IN THE STRAIGHTENED POSITION OF SAID COLUMN, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OUTRIGGER ARM EXTENDING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY TO SAID COLUMN, A FIRST ELONGATED FLEXIBLE TENSION ELEMENT EXTENDING THROUGH ALL SAID PASSAGES, A SECOND ELONGATED FLEXIBLE TENSION ELEMENT ANCHORED TO THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID COLUMN AND ENGAGING 